Youth Affairs and Sports Minister leads Fit India Sundays on Cycle
The cycle trip starting from the Gateway of India with wellness experts, propagates PM's message to fight obesity
Fit India Movement's flagship programme, 'Sundays on Cycle', was held at Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India today morning, with an effort to create awareness among the masses to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle through cycling, while also promoting a solution for pollution. The ride was flagged off from the Gateway of India, with more than 500 cyclists constituting of wellness experts joining from across the country, various cycle clubs and individual fitness enthusiasts, culminated at the Girgaon Chowpatty through the picturesque Marine Drive.
The cycle riders was led by Union Youth Affairs
& Sports and Labour and Employment Minister
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, who launched the 'Sundays on Cycle campaign' in line
with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of a fit nation and his
recent clarion call to fight the problem of obesity, especially among the urban
youth. Therefore, besides riding for good health, the overarching message of
this week's Sundays on Cycle was #FightObesity.
Dr. Mandaviya was joined by other eminent
Mumbaikars, including globally renowned wellness expert Dr. Mickey Mehta;
designer, social worker and fitness enthusiast Shaina NC; UPA- Lokayukta,
Maharashtra Sanjay Bhatia who is also a Heartfullness Meditation trainer; and
Krishna Prakash, IPS, ADG, Mumbai and the first IPS officer to complete the
Ironman Triathlon. Mayank Srivastav, IPS, Deputy Director General, Sports
Authority of India and Pandurang Chate, Regional Director, SAI, Mumbai, Bhavani
Naik Joshi, CEO, BYCS India Foundation and emerging actor Aishwarya Raj
Bhakuni, SAI athletes and members of cycling clubs of Mumbai were also present.
Speaking at the event, Union Sports Minister Dr.
Mandaviya said, "Our Honourable PM's vision of a Viksit Bharat can only be
achieved if the citizens of the country are fit, because fit people can
contribute far more towards nation building. This initiative of 'Sundays on
Cycle' is an effort to propagate the importance of leading a fit life while
also contributing towards the environment by using a mode of transport that has
zero carbon footprints. I urge everyone, especially younger people, to use
cycles to commute whenever possible. This will not only make them healthy; it
will improve the overall health of our environment."
Lauding the
initiative Shaina NC said, " I would like to congratulate Dr. Mandaviya
and the sports ministry for this very timely and important initiative. Today's
Sundays on Cycle was a 5km ride but I wish it was longer. The enthusiasm among
the cyclists was fantastic and the underlying message of fighting obesity is
very important in today's world where most youngsters are leading a sedentary
lifestyle."
Fit India
Ambassador Dr. Mickey Mehta added, "Cycling is a celebration in itself. As
someone who has been working in the field of wellness for so many years, an
initiative like this, which is seeing mass participation across the country,
will motivate many Indians to take their first step towards a healthier life."
The cycling
event was also held simultaneously at the Dhyanchand National Stadium in New
Delhi with over 170 riders including Shivani Pawar, bronze medalist at 2024
Senior Asian Wrestling Championship and 2025 National Games gold medalist,
joining in alongside representatives from Decathlon, Cult.Fit, Sports Authority
of India National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR) and wellness
coaches from Yogasana Bharat.
Expressing
her happiness seeing a diverse group of riders, Shivani said, “It’s very
welcoming to see elders and younger people are participating at the same time.
Fitness and sports activities are very important for us and parents have to be
very enthusiastic to enrol their kids in these. With proper education, we also
need events like these. Cycling also gives us a chance to appreciate the beauty
of nature.”
Fit India
Ambassador and IRS officer Narendra Yadav was also part of a cycling drive held
at sports complex sector 12, Faridabad. Over 150 cyclists including athletes
and over 20 yoga instructors from Patanjali Yog Sansthan took part.
The Sundays
on Cycle initiative, started on December 17 last year and has already been
hosted in over 3500 locations across India. On February 16th the event was held
in over 100 locations with prominent athletes, wellness experts, and cycling
clubs joining in. Events are simultaneously held nationwide at SAI Regional
Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) and the Khelo India centres
(KICs).